Unity

Iced Americano, having a naturally outgoing personality, began asking around about this matter once she had become a familiar face to all the members of Black Feather.

She wasn't looking for anything in particular; she just wanted to satisfy her own curiosity.

The first person she approached was Xinxue.

Cheerful people are always drawn to other cheerful people, and Iced Americano and Xinxue hit it off immediately.

Furthermore, since Xinxue was handling almost all of Black Feather’s affairs at the time, Iced Americano naturally assumed that she was the second-in-command.

It wasn't until a certain moment when she joked around and used that title that Xinxue became immediately serious, and Iced Americano realized she had been wrong.

But who could have guessed?

The second-in-command of Black Feather was actually the cook, Wanyi, who basically didn't manage anything. Xinxue only ranked third, and fourth place…

Was Liang Shanbo, whose usefulness she still hadn't discovered to this day.

Moreover, all of them were very satisfied with their own positioning, and other people with a say in Black Feather, like Ailin and Guang Hui, actually accepted it as well.

Although Iced Americano was confused, these were matters for the leaders, not something she could comment on, so she let the matter drop.

Time returns to the present. Although she hadn't been singled out, Iced Americano felt something was amiss. Just as she was planning to pretend she hadn't seen anything and continue with her work, she heard Xinxue calling her.

Well, there was no escaping it now. Hopefully, it was something good.

...

When the sky was about to turn dark, the wolf-race beastmen of the first and second patrol teams finally returned with their prey.

Just as they reached the vicinity of the territory, they noticed that today was different.

The beastmen who usually worked were gone, and the children who would typically greet them at the village entrance were not there either.

“Something happened?”

The sharp-eyed captain of the first patrol team, Lang Ju, immediately realized there was a problem.

Lang Ju relied on her own solid skills to become the captain of the first patrol team. Because of this, even though some werewolves were dissatisfied, they had no choice but to be convinced after being beaten to the ground a few times.

It was just that while they were convinced in words, they still held some resentment in their hearts, and talking back to the captain of the first patrol team had become a common occurrence.

“This is our wolf-race territory; what could possibly happen here?” Lang Ji curled his lips in disapproval. He was the deputy captain of the second patrol team and had never really gotten along with the cautious Lang Ju. “Maybe Big Sister Jiu organized everyone to go dig for some new wild vegetables again.”

Lang Ju ignored his heckling. Her sharp gaze swept over the silent village, her nose twitching slightly as she carefully distinguished the scents in the air. “There is no smell of blood in the territory; nothing major should have happened.”

Hearing her judgment, the members of the two patrol teams finally relaxed.

The heavy weapons were all in the hands of the third patrol team. If something had really happened that the third patrol team couldn't solve, they would only be throwing their lives away.

The sound of the wolf pack clearly sighing in relief provoked Lang Ji’s dissatisfaction once again.

It was one thing for the people of the first patrol team to listen to Lang Ju, but he was clearly the captain of the second patrol team—how could these people listen to Lang Ju instead!

Was he not the captain of the second patrol team?

Where were these werewolves placing him?

Lang Ji smiled with the corners of his mouth pulled back, his anger already clouding his judgment.

He stepped forward abruptly, almost pressing against Lang Ju’s face, his voice filled with irrepressible sarcasm and provocation:

“Captain Lang Ju is truly impressive! Even the people from our second patrol team listen to your orders now? Anyone who didn't know better would think the entire wolf-race patrol team was under your management!”

This sudden hostility caused the atmosphere to freeze instantly.

The members of the first patrol team glared at Lang Ji with anger, while the members of the second patrol team appeared somewhat embarrassed and at a loss, subconsciously looking toward their deputy captain.

Lang Ju frowned slightly and looked at him calmly. “Lang Ji, now is not the time to discuss this. The whereabouts of our tribesmen are unknown; that is the primary issue.”

“That’s right, Captain Ji. Our harvest today is pretty good. Seeing as our lives are about to get better, we shouldn't have any accidents at a time like this.”

The deputy captain, Lang Dao, also came out to persuade him.

“Primary issue?” Lang Ji sneered, unrelenting. “I think the primary issue is that you, Lang Ju, are overstepping your bounds! Why should your word be final? Why does everyone have to listen to your judgment?”

After finishing with Lang Ju, he pointed his target at Lang Dao: “And you! Lang Dao! Whose deputy captain are you anyway? Every time you help an outsider speak, do you even have me, the captain, in your eyes?!”

Lang Dao was choked by this groundless accusation until his face flushed red. He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words of defense, only sighing helplessly.

The other members of the second patrol team also lowered their heads one after another, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

Seeing that no one dared to refute him directly, Lang Ji’s arrogance grew even stronger. He turned to Lang Ju and raised his voice: “Didn't you say everything was fine? Move aside, I'm going home!”

As he said this, he prepared to forcibly push Lang Ju aside and rush into the village.

This was no longer just talking back; it was an open provocation and a tyrannical challenge to the leadership.

Lang Ju’s eyes turned completely cold.

She could tolerate questioning, but she could never tolerate anyone disrupting the unity and discipline of the team at a time like this.

Her figure remained as steady as a rock. The strength of her arm block increased suddenly, and her voice sounded like a frozen lake, carrying a bone-chilling coldness: “Lang Ji! I am warning you one last time, step down!”

“Who do you think you are to order me!”

Lang Ji completely lost his reason. With a low growl, his muscles bulged and his sharp claws instantly extended; it looked as if he was about to act regardless of the consequences.

“Stop!”

Just at this critical moment, an aged but resonant voice, like the evening drum and morning bell, suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned their heads in astonishment to see Lang San, with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane and walking slowly toward them with the support of two young werewolves from deep within the village.

In Lang Ji’s view, Lang San was just an old werewolf relying on his seniority. If it weren't for his age, who would listen to him?

Therefore, not only did he not stop, but he took advantage of Lang Ju stopping and the moment she was slightly distracted by that shout to exert force, his claws striking directly at Lang Ju’s face with a whistling wind!

If this strike landed, Lang Ju could forget about her face.

“Watch out!” Lang Dao and several werewolves with quick reflexes exclaimed, but it was already too late to stop him.

However, the reason Lang Ju could be elected as the captain of the first patrol team was certainly not due to luck.

Just as those claws were about to touch her skin, her waist bent backward at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the sharp tips.

Even if Lang Ji could scratch her, it wouldn't be as disfiguring as before.

And at the same time, a leg from out of nowhere whipped out as fast as a lash, kicking Lang Ji’s wrist fiercely at the very last moment!

“Bang!” A dull thud echoed.

“Ugh!” Lang Ji groaned in pain as a bone-cracking agony shot through his wrist, and his attack was completely ruined.

Cheng Shuili steadied herself. If Lang San hadn't walked so slowly and taken so long, she wouldn't have been worried enough to come over to check. If she hadn't, Lang Ji’s claws would definitely have drawn blood today.

“Who?!” Lang Ji clutched his wrist, looking at the suddenly appeared Cheng Shuili in shock and anger.

He didn't recognize this human, only feeling that her speed was astonishingly fast and her strength was absurdly high.

However, Lang Ju, Lang Dao, and all the others who saw Cheng Shuili’s face clearly—especially after feeling the faint, majestic aura from her that matched the Wolf Fang token—were all stunned.

The next moment, Lang Ju was the first to react. She couldn't even bother to pay attention to Lang Ji and immediately knelt on one knee, her voice trembling with excitement:

“King! You… you have returned?”

“King?!”

This title was like a giant rock falling into water, stirring up massive waves in the hearts of all the wolf-race beastmen.

The King they had been looking forward to for so long was actually right in front of them?

And appeared in such a way?

Lang Dao and the other members of the first and second patrol teams, after a brief shock and confirmation, also knelt down in unison. Even the two young werewolves who had been supporting Lang San bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, my King!”

The shouting was no longer chaotic but carried immense awe and a trace of panic. They had just—

Actually let the King see such an unsightly scene of internal fighting!

Lang Ji was completely dumbfounded. He stared blankly at Cheng Shuili, then looked at his companions kneeling on the ground—especially the unfeigned respectful posture of Lang Ju, and the fact that the highly respected Lang San was also bowing slightly to the girl...

A tremendous fear instantly gripped his heart, more suffocating than the sharp pain in his wrist just moments ago.

He… he had almost hurt the King just now?

No, no, the King had stopped him, and…

Had kicked him?

Cheng Shuili did not immediately tell everyone to stand up. Her gaze slowly moved to Lang Ji, who was ashen-faced and trembling all over.

“It seems I didn't come at the right time.” Cheng Shuili’s voice was very calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. “Or perhaps, I came at exactly the right time to stop a tragedy of kin killing kin?”

Lang Ju lowered her head deeply. “This subordinate is incompetent and failed to handle internal affairs well. Please punish me, my King!”

Cheng Shuili didn't respond, instead walking up to Lang Ji.

Lang Ji watched her approach; fear made it almost impossible for him to breathe. He wanted to kneel, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead and wouldn't move.

“You, are Lang Ji?” Cheng Shuili sized him up. “The… captain of the second patrol team?”

“I… I…”

Lang Ji’s lips trembled, unable to speak a complete sentence.

“It seems that you, as a captain, are not very convincing.” Cheng Shuili’s tone remained flat, yet every word pierced the heart. “Questioning colleagues, provoking superiors, attacking comrades…”

One charge after another spilled from the King’s mouth. Lang Ji’s earlier arrogance had long since vanished, and his legs trembled faster and faster along with Cheng Shuili’s words.

But Cheng Shuili hadn't finished: “Now, even with me standing here, do you not know how to pay your respects?”

As soon as these words fell, before Lang Ji could react, the other wolf-race beastmen glared at him angrily.

Regardless of which patrol team’s captain he was, daring to disrespect the King meant rubbing the face of the entire wolf-race in the dirt and acting against the whole tribe! Before Lang Ju or Lang Dao could even make a move, a member of the second patrol team rushed out from the ranks and kicked Lang Ji hard in the back of his knee.

“Kneel! In the presence of the King, who gave you permission to stand!”

He shouted angrily, his voice filled with fury.

This kick was full of force. Lang Ji fell to his knees with a heavy thud, his kneecaps smashing against the hard ground and making a dull sound.

The intense pain woke him up instantly and made him recognize the current situation completely.

He was no longer the captain who could throw his weight around, but a sinner who had committed a grave mistake before the King.

“King… King… I was wrong! I deserve death! I beg the King to forgive my sins! Please, forgive me!”

Lang Ji could no longer care about his face. Tears and snot streaming down his face, he knocked his forehead hard against the ground, making a rhythmic thumping sound.

Tremendous fear and regret drowned him.

Cheng Shuili realized instantly that this was a perfect opportunity.

Although these beastmen had absolute loyalty to the King, it did not mean they were all on the same page.

She needed to take this opportunity to imprint authority and order deep into the heart of every wolf-race beastman.

Otherwise, the troubles within the wolf-race in the future would likely come in waves, endless and infinite.

If it was to be done, it must be done once and for all!

Cheng Shuili lowered her eyes, looking at Lang Ji, who was trembling like chaff under her feet and knocking his head repeatedly.

The air was filled with a suffocating tension.

For a long time, Cheng Shuili finally spoke, her voice not loud, yet like a cold current passing through, freezing the air:

“The wolf-race stands on courage and unity. And you, Lang Ji, with what you did today, which part of it is worthy of the identity of the wolf-race?”

Her gaze swept over the kneeling wolf-race, her voice clearly reaching the entire field:

“Questioning colleagues is discord. Provoking superiors is disrespect. Attacking comrades is unrighteousness! When the safety of the tribe is unknown, inciting internal strife for one’s own selfish desires is even more foolish in the extreme!”

Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Lang Ji’s heart and the hearts of all the wolf-race.

Unlike the solemnity on the faces of the other wolf-race beastmen, for every word Cheng Shuili spoke, the relief in her heart grew a bit more.

Luckily, she had studied hard in school, otherwise how could she have said these things?

Look at how effective this was; not only was Lang Ji’s tail tucked between his legs, but even the tails of Lang Ju and the others were tucked between their legs as well.

Clearly, they were terrified.

Having struck them, the punishment followed naturally.

“Lang Ji, I strip you of your title as captain of the second patrol team. Effective immediately, you are assigned to the first patrol team, and all actions must follow Lang Ju’s instructions. If you commit this again…”

She paused slightly, her gaze pressing like a physical weight on Lang Ji’s trembling back.

“……Then go shut yourself away and reflect. Don't come out until you have figured out how to write the word ‘unity’.”

This punishment was beyond the expectations of all the wolf-race.

Assigning Lang Ji under the command of Lang Ju, whom he had always refused to accept, and being subject to her control daily, was simply an all-around crushing, from dignity to strength.

Compared to simple physical punishment or demotion, this arrangement was simply soul-crushing.

Lang Ji looked up abruptly, his face drained of all color.

Sending him to the logistics team to do chores might just be embarrassing, but making him take orders under Lang Ju every day, watching the person he had provoked become the superior he had to absolutely obey…

This was harder for him to accept than any physical punishment.

“King…” his lips trembled, still wanting to beg for mercy.

“What?” Cheng Shuili interrupted him, her tone flat but unquestionable. “You are unwilling?”

If Cheng Shuili’s previous voice had just been serious, these three words were asked with murderous intent.